Chapter 120

His target was an inconspicuous "sickle" hidden in a corner.

It was wrapped in chainmail and coarse cloth, and left like trash in a dusty corner.

It is the weapon of the Darkin.

Before the Darkin, it was the weapon of the Ascended.

The true... weapon of the gods.

This scythe "should" have been stolen by a young man skilled in shadow magic in the future, but Chen Ce beat him to it. In the future, Zed will stage a show to have his capable but more ambitious disciple Kayn "intercept" the scythe, which was actually already stored in the Immortal Bastion.

This is an ancient Darkin Scythe, its power comparable to any magic in Ionia. A single, crimson eye of hatred glares from the corner of the scythe, tempting powerful humans to wield it in battle. However, it is clear that no one is currently qualified to use it. All who have touched it have been swiftly and painfully consumed by its malice.

In fact, Chen Ce wasn't sure if he was "qualified".

But it's okay.

Because he had his own way of getting the Darkin was sealed within the giant scythe, to accept him.

He slowly approached the giant scythe and reached out his hand to it.

In an instant, the "eye" at the corner of the sickle opened.

A wave of decaying energy washed over them, and a terrifying voice, seemingly emanating from the depths of an abyss, echoed within the sealed vault:

"Who is truly qualified...?"

Chen Ce heard it. His consciousness was under immense pressure.

But he still insisted on reaching out and grasping the handle of the giant scythe.

"Rhaast... I know you..."

"Please allow me to take you to a nice place..."

"Reincarnation... desperate situation..."

Chapter Nine: Aatrox, you must be the songstress!

The Death Realm still feels so familiar.

The familiar desolation, the familiar black fog, the familiar wailing of ghosts... it felt just like coming home.

Having crossed the world barrier countless times, Chen Ce no longer feels uncomfortable and recovers in a short time.

However, the terrifying being within the scythe—the former Ascended, now Darkin, Rhaast —was somewhat disoriented.

Even though his power was comparable to some Aspects, he still appeared incredibly insignificant in the face of [the World].

"Take a deep breath; dizziness is normal," Chen Ce kindly reminded her. "If you can take deep breaths..."

"..." The dark, giant scythe landed on the ground, its crimson eye at the corner of the blade and handle opening and closing intermittently, clearly still in a state of eerie chaos.

It took him several minutes to recover.

A wisp of crimson Darkin energy emanated from the single eye, like a hand touching the world, sensing this utterly unfamiliar environment.

Everything here surprised him.

Having stood atop Runeterra, he had witnessed almost every scene and tasted all darkness... but he had never felt such an extreme, such oppressive aura of death.

It was as if the whole world had died.

There were no living creatures left, only the netherworld.

Darkness, death, despair... it was just like the Void we discovered beneath the abyss back then.

"Where is this..." Rhaast's deep, hoarse voice came from within the giant scythe, and like a transmission of consciousness, it drilled directly into Chen Ce's mind.

"The Death Realm," the latter answered truthfully, "Also known as the Death Realm, a world that people enter after they die."

So... you're dead?

Why not guess that we're dead?

"The Darkin's life is eternal... even the gods cannot kill me..."

"That's pretty impressive," Chen Ce chuckled. "But unfortunately, neither of us died."

"Then how did you..." Rhaast was about to ask, but then felt that such a question was meaningless—he couldn't be bothered to know.

"Did you bring me here to avoid being killed by me?"

"No," Chen Ce shook his head, "I just don't want to make too much noise in the Immortal Bastion's secret vault."

"Are you ready to be killed by me?"

Why do you want to kill me?

"Because of your greed..." Rhaast laughed, his laughter hoarse as if it came from a deep, dry well. "I can see... you're trying to control my power..."

"But perhaps I am qualified to become your 'host'?" Chen Ce took out the Muramana, and the aura of various magics and skills instantly flowed out.

He is many times stronger than Kayn will be in the future.

If Kayn is "qualified," then in terms of pure strength, he is absolutely "qualified."

Rhaast also showed a hint of surprise.

"A powerful mortal... I acknowledge your strength..."

"So, are you still planning to attack me?" Chen Ce asked again.

"As always..." Rhaast replied with a sneer.

Why?

"It's still because of your greed... You're a mortal qualified enough, but your greed even surpasses that of the Ascended... You actually dared to attempt to control the power of the Darkin? Heh..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ce made no attempt to conceal his greed; instead, he readily admitted it.

"Because only when I control my own body can I go somewhere and find someone," he chuckled. "And I think you'll be very interested in that person too."

"Who?" Rhaast wasn't in a hurry to make a move, but instead asked with great interest—he had been trapped in his weapon for far too long and hadn't spoken to anyone for many years.

Countless centuries ago, when he was still a glorious Ascended, he had always had the problem of being "talkative".

Even if it's a dying person, it's still very good if they can say a few words.

Of course, he wouldn't let the other person off the hook just because he'd chatted with them a few more times.

Chatting is chatting, killing is killing; let's not interfere with either.

But Chen Ce's next words would stop his murderous intent—though it would likely only be temporary.

"Aatrox."

After he finished speaking, even the talkative Rhaast fell silent for a long while.

After a long silence, he asked again in a hesitant tone, "Aatrox... is he my former brother, Aatrox?"

"Yes, that's the Ascended's hailed as the strongest under Empress Setaka," Chen Ce said jokingly. "But it's clear he's now Darkin, just like you—only he awakened earlier, which I think you've already sensed."

"Yes, yes... Aatrox... that incredibly powerful force... I can feel him... he's back!"

Rhaast suddenly became very emotional, clearly missing his former comrades-in-arms.

"Can you help me find him? Aatrox... I can have another big fight with him!"

"I can't guarantee it, but I know roughly where he is right now," Chen Ce added. "He slaughtered several villages and tribes in Freljord a while ago."

"Freljord... is that the far north?"

"Yes."

"Take me there quickly!"

"No, no, no... If you're not willing to lend me your power, I dare not go to him."

"I can promise to spare your life, and I can also persuade Aatrox to show you mercy!"

"I can believe the first half of what you said, but the second half... well, I'm afraid Aatrox won't grant your request."

"What's the meaning?"

"It means... he will kill me." Chen Ce revealed that mocking smile again, as if he were mocking the other party's ignorance—the ignorance of someone isolated from the world for countless centuries.

"Will he kill you too?"

"Me? Aatrox? Killed me?" Rhaast's voice rose, his tone filled with disbelief and denial. "How could he do this to me? We fought the Void together!"

"Aatrox is no longer the Aatrox he once was," Chen Ce continued. "He was sealed within the Darkin Blade for far too long... His spirit and faith have completely collapsed, but he cannot die. He wants to destroy the entire world, and then perish along with himself in the final 'World Ender'."

"I do not understand..."

"In other words, he wasn't targeting you; he just wanted to kill everyone equally."

"..."

"Oh, by the way, Aatrox still looks down on you a lot."

"What?"

Rhaast's tone changed again—becoming somewhat displeased.

This was exactly what Chen Ce wanted—the fish had taken the bait, just like the cunning Aspect of Twilight had deceived them back then.

"After awakening, he tried to find a host and also tried to rebuild his physical body... but all in vain. He believed that there was no one in this world worthy of him," Chen Ce explained, adding fuel to the fire. "And your current behavior of searching for a host makes him feel extremely disgusted. He even thinks that you are the scum, the weakling, and the coward who bows down to mortals in the entire Ascended group."

"What?!" Rhaast's voice rose again, filled with anger.

But soon, he realized something.

"You're deceiving me... You're trying to sow discord... Damn mortals, you're always like this!"

As soon as he finished speaking, an even more powerful surge of Darkin energy erupted, enveloping the entire surrounding area in the blink of an eye.

Now he only needs a single thought to kill the mortal before him.

But Chen Ce remained calm.

"If you don't believe me, you can come with me to confront him face to face—I even know what his first words to you will be."

"What..." Rhaast was already gritting his teeth—if he still had any.

"He would say..." Chen Ce cleared his throat, then tried his best to imitate Aatrox's voice and tone as he remembered, "He would say, 'A sickle, is your enemy a field of wheat?'"

Rhaast fell silent.

His anger was rising rapidly.

Shuriman Empire, he certainly admired the powerful Aatrox, but that didn't mean he had no dignity and could be trampled on by Aatrox at will.

In his memory, Aatrox was brave, powerful, and a leader. Even when facing the seemingly invincible Void army, he dared to charge into battle without hesitation. His bravery shocked the entire Shuriman Empire —even Empress Setaka personally expressed her approval of him.

Even after falling into Darkin, the Aatrox he remembered was not as brutal, bloodthirsty, and unscrupulous as other Darkin. Aatrox always maintained a sense of honor and pride unique to Ascended.

But... but why...?

Why that supreme powerhouse... that Aatrox...?

It will turn into this...

And why... to trample on his already ravaged glory...?

He was once a glorious Ascended, a powerful Ascended... Even now, trapped in a quagmire, fallen into the abyss, and transformed into Darkin... he will not allow anyone to despise him!

Even, Aatrox!!

"I will kill him...!"

Rhaast's tone was filled with anger and resentment, as if his once highly respected comrade-in-arms had become his mortal enemy.

"But you and I both know that Aatrox's power is beyond the reach of ordinary people," Chen Ce added at the opportune moment. "But if... I mean if you had a qualified host when he didn't have one, maybe you could take him down in a two-on-one fight."

"Ah...you make a lot of sense..." Rhaast forced himself to calm down. "I acknowledge your wisdom and qualifications, mortal..."

"So, it's a pleasure working with you?"

"No... you seem to have misunderstood something..."

"So you still want to directly take over my body?"

"You guessed right this time..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Rhaast launched the Darkin energy he had already released at his opponent.